Standing before Colbourne House, you can almost hear the whispers of the past echoing through the walls. This unassuming, yet charming, home is a window into Vancouver’s history. Colbourne House, situated in Vancouver’s Marpole neighborhood, was built in 1912 by Mr. Thomas T. Thomas. He lived there with his wife until 1919. In 1936, the house was sold to Mr. Henry Colbourne, a CPR train conductor. The Colbourne family lived there until 1981.
Imagine stepping inside. You would see three bedrooms upstairs and downstairs a kitchen, living room, dining room, and a small bathroom. This was a typical working-class home for a time when Canada was transitioning from a farming society. This house is a testament to a bygone era when families lived more simply.
After years of neglect, the house was slated for demolition, but the Marpole Museum and Historical Society intervened. They saw the house’s historical value and its potential to teach future generations about Vancouver’s past. The society restored the house to its 1930s era style. They meticulously researched the original color schemes even obtaining a grant to repaint it in 2013 using Benjamin Moore Heritage Colors.
Today, Colbourne House is a museum, open to the public since 2005. It’s filled with artifacts donated by the community, including a wringer washing machine that the Colbournes’ daughter, Evelyn, used until she moved out in 1982. You can even see a cranking phonograph player, old radios, and vintage telephones. It’s a reminder that life was much slower back then, with fewer conveniences.
This house, now lovingly preserved, offers a glimpse into the lives of families who built this city. It reminds us of the simplicity and the strength of community that formed the foundation of Vancouver.